December 18, 1991 – Jim Henson Productions Signs Distribution Deal with Buena Vista Home Video
“This is our most significant distribution agreement to date and we are pleased to be able to present this entire gold mine of product to consumers worldwide.” – President of International Theatrical Distribution for Disney Bill Mechanic
On December 18, 1991, one year after merger negotiations broke down between The Walt Disney Company and Jim Henson Productions, a distribution deal was reached with Disney’s Buena Vista Home Video. Buena Vista was given 30 years’ worth of the Henson library for the following five to six years, excluding Sesame Street. This stand-alone agreement worked as it was based on Disney’s track record of marketing and distributing tapes to consumers; this track record was also seen as the main reason merger talks began.
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